Gun adapted to fire at high elevations.



K. VGLLBR.

GUN ADAPTBD T0 PIRE AT HIGH ELEVA'IIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4| 1910.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

. INJENTD sof UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL VLLER, 0F DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO RHEINISCHE METALL- WAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, OF DUSSELDORF-DERENDORF, GERMANY.

GUN ADAPTED T0 FIRE AT HIGH ELEVATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 2S, 191 1. Application led May 4, 1910. Serial N0. 559,263.

the cradle, slides a catch i' which is retained by a spring in the position shown in the drawing; in this position it engages a projection m of the toothed sector f. This projection is thus held against a surface of the bearing so that the cradle a and the toothed sector j' are coupled so as to move together. lVhen, therefore, the toothed sector is moved, the cradle, the gun barrel and the sighting device move with it. The catch i has an eye n by which it is connected through link o with a lever 7 fixed to the shaft y); the latter can he moved by any suitable means in such a manner that the catch z' is withdrawn from its engagement with the toothed sector f whereupon the cradle carrier o is disconnected from the sector. It is then possible to swing the cradle carrier e together with the cradle a and the gun barrel b independentlj.r of the toothed sector f, which, together with the To all whom zt may co-ncem:

Be it known that I, KARL VLLER, engineer, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at 17 Jlicherstrasse, Dusseldorf, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guns Adapted to Fire at I'ligh Elevations; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

uns designed to tire at high elevations cannot be loaded at these elevations, wherefore the gun barrel is brought vinto a particular loading position when the gun is to be loaded. In order to render possible rapid loading a coupling inserted between the elevating mechanism and the gun barrel or the cradle is disconnected so that the barrel can be swung into the loading position and back again into the tiring position independentl of the elevating mechanisln. elevating mechanism and the sighting dcl' hen the gun has been loaded 1t may vice, ren'ialns 1n the position it has at the time.

0n the cradle fr is mounted to slide in a bearing r a piston t subject to the pressure of a spring e; this piston is maintained in the position shown in Fig. l by a lever u fulcrumed on the cradle n.. 'lhe other end of this lever u rests upon a stop w fixed to the toothed sector f. Then the coupling between the toothed sector f and the cradle carrier o or its guide rail y is disconnected and the cradle and gun barrel are turned on the trunnions, the lever a slides ott' the stop 'U and eau turn about its fulerum. In oonsequence the spring s presses upward the piston t until the latter comes against the top of the cylinder and thus turns the lever u through a small angle. The piston t ear` ries an extension `zo which in the highest position of the piston presents itself in front of a lever 3,', fulcrumed in the breech block ai, and prevents this lever from moving. The lever 7/ is connected positivelyT with the trig ger of the gun in known manner so that the gun cannot be tired so long as the e.\'tension w locks the lever y. that is to say while the coupling is disconnected and the cradle carrier, together with the cradle and the gun a-rrel, is free to swing independently of the toothed sector. 711cm however, the gun barrel has been brought back into the tiring position after loading and closing the breech, the free end of the lever u slides on happen that it is fired either by accident, or by oversight, while the barrel is still in the loading position. Should this occur the recoil brings the barrel back into the elevating position and not only is the shot fired uselessly but the blow which the gun barrel deals the elevating mechanism is liable to break certain parts and to put the gun out of action. It is the object of the present invention to avoid such mishaps and for this purpose when the coupling between the elevating mechanism and the gun barrel or cradle is disconnected a device automatically locks the trigger when the breech is closed and the trigger remains locked until the coupling has been again connected.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated in side elevation in Figure 1; in rear elevation in Fig. 2; and in plan in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a cross section.

The cradle carrier o which carries the cradle a whereon the gun barrel slides ir recoiling, is mounted free to turn on trunnions d 1n the gun carriage. On the trunnion d the nave c of the toothed sector j' is free to turn in the trunnion bearing. The sector is guided by a segmental rail g on the cradle carrier o; it engages a gear of an elevating mechanism which is not shown in the drawing and carries a sighting device of any suitable construction, also omitted om the drawing. In a bearing la, xed to lit) the inclined surface ot' the stop o and is thus raised so that the` other end depresses the piston t with its extension il against the pressure ot the spring i; and thus liberates the lever y and the trigger.

llaving now particularlyr described and ascertained the nature of m v said invention and in what manner the saine is to be perfcrined. Vl declare that what' i claim is:--

l. ln combination with a gun having elevating mechanism, and a trigger-loch, means whereinr tht` gun ma;y be swung trom firing to loading position independcnttvv ot' its clevating mechanism. means* designed to be automatically actuated as the gun is so moved indepeiidenttvv ot' its elevating mechanism to perniit such trigger-lock to lock the trigger and keep it locked until the gun is returned to tiring position.

12. ln combination with a giin liavingeleA vat ing mechanism. and a trigger-loclt` meana whereby the gun maiY ie swung troin tiring to loading position independently otI its' elevating mechanism` means designed to be automatically actuated as the gun is so moved indei'iendentlvv et its elevating mechanirfm to permit such trigger-lock to hielt the trigger and keep it locked until the gun is returned to tiring position. and meansA t'or autonzaticalliv releasing said tormer means` when the gun is' so retiii'ned to tiring position.

B. ln combination with a gun barrel adapted to tire at high elevations` a cradle for Isaid barrel, and elevating mechanism t'or said barrel and cradle` means wherebv the gun nia v be swung trom tiring to loading position independentli ot itsl elevating mechanism` a coupling between the elevating mechanism and the cradle` a triggerlock` and means tor permitting said triggerlock to become ellective when the barrel and cradle are, attcr the coupling is disconnected. iuoved into loading position independentlir ot the elevating mechanism.

4. ln combination with a gun barrel adapted to [iie at high elevations', a cradle for said barrel` and eicvatiiig for .said barrel and cradle, means whereby the giiii may be swung t'roin tiring to loading position independenttvv ot' its elevating mechanism, a coupling between the elevating mechanism and the cradle, a triggerlock designed to automaticallyv become etlective when the coupling is disconnected and the barrel and cradle are moved into loading position independently ot the elevating mechanism, and means tor automatically retraeting the trigger lock when the gun barrel and cradle are returned Afrom loading position.

ln combination with a gun barrel adapted to tire at` high elevations, a cradle Copies of this patent may be obtained for mechanism ve cents each, by addressing the for said barrel, and elevating mechanism for said barrel and cradle, between which latter and said elevating ii'ieelianisni there is a relative movement, a coupling between the elevating mechanism and the cradle when the barrel and cradle. are in tiring position, a springiiiipelled trigger lock for preventing the actuation of the trigger when the barrel and cradle are uncoiipled from the elevating mechanism and are moved into loading position, and means for automaticalli;r retraeting said trigger lock when the barrel and cradle are returned into tiring position.

ln combination with a gun barrel adapted to tire at high elevations, a cradle tor said barrel, and elevating mechanism for said barrel and cradle. between which latter and said elevating mechanism there is a relative movement, a coupling between the elevating mechanism and the cradle, a pin tor locking the trigger when the barrel and. cradle ai'e in loading position, and means tor automaticallyY moving raid locking pin in opposite directions when the cradle and barrel are iinconpled trom the elevating mechanism and are being moved relatively thereto.

T. Vln con'ibination with a gun adapted to tire at'` high elevations, a cradle t'or said barrel, and elevating mechanism tor said barrel and cradle, between which latter and said elevating mechanism there is a relative movement, a spring-iinpelled trigger lock, a coupling between said elevating mechanism and cradle, a lever for moving said trigger lock in opposition to its spring when the barrel and cradle are nncoupled trom the elevating mechanism, and are bebarrel ing moved into tiring position. and fixed nie-.insl for so acting on said lever.

S. ln combination with a gun barrel adapted to tire at high elevations, a cradle tor said barrel, and elevating mechanis'm tor -said barrel and cradle, between which latter and said elevating mechanism there is :i relative n'iovcnient. a spring-impelled trigger lock, a coupling between said elevating mechanism and cradle, a lever `tulcriuiied on said cradle tor moving said trigger lock in opposition to its spring, and a .stop 'arried bv the elevating mechanism with which said lever is designed to engage to retract said trigger lock when the barrel and cradle are uneoupled from the elevating mechanism and are being moved to firing position.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto set mv hand in presence ot two witnesses.

KARL VOLLER.

Witnesses HENRY HASPER, Toiioiiiuivu llaor'i'.

Commissioner 0f Patents, 

